Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-27
JEFFERSON COUNTY SPEAKS OUT,
Concerning the Relation of Messrs. Lucas
and Chew to their Party.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, W. VA, /
January %, 1897.

January %, 1897. !
To tie Editor Of The Register.
As many statements have gone out from
this good old county which bears the hon
orable and distinguished name OF the
founder of democratic government, that
our people concur in and justify the bolt
ing course now being pursued by Delegates
Chew and Lucas, / beg the indulgence OF
a little space 10 enter the emphatic protest
of an old Democrat against this foul asper-
sion upon the loyalty of the good Demo
cratic citizens of this county, and to prove
its falSity from the record which they have
made for themselves ut the ballot box.
The Democrats Of Jefferson, who do the
work that brings party success, and in
whose hearts are rooted the principles OF
their political faith and loyalty TO the
time hOnOred customs of organization and
majority rule do not concur i'll the action
or conduct of any representative who per-
mits his personal spleen, disappointed am
bition or icOnOclastic desires 10 carry him
to the extent of disorganizing and disrupt
ing his party, and endanger it's future SUI
premacy. Hence they do not approve of
the course now being pursued by MeSsrs.
Chew and Lucas. They were ready to.
expect it from Mr.. Lucas, but from Col.
Chew whose standing and character
Is Democrat are above
and beyond question. they expected
better things. The question of Camden
and anti-Camden entered largely into the
contests of the last fall, and the results
show that upon full vote the margin Is
very small either way. In our contest for
State Senator, this issue WAS squarely met
and the result proves the proposition. 1t
was conceded that Jefferson was entitled
to the Senator from this district, and two
candidates were presented, DIR. Starry, a
pronounced Camden man, and Isaac II.
Strider, equally pronounced on the other
side. Under the rule of our county cOn-
yentiOn, these gentlemen were to be voted
for directly, and the successful candidate
to have privilege OF naming the delegates
To the convention. In that contest, which
was an animated and bitter one, StTider
received 1,O02 and Starry 81 votes, or
1871 majority upon full party vote, thus
enabling Strider to control the full deIcgd-
ton, or 23 votes from this county. Yet
the Camden feeling was so strong through
out the district that Strider was repudiat-
ell, and Senator Gettiuger nominated in
his stead. Every vote cast for Starry was
rs direct and unqualified for Mr.. Camden
rs If he had personally been candidate,
whilst many voters gave their suttrages to
Strider through personal considerations. l
allude to this record only to show that the
claim made by MeSsrs. Mason and Lucas,
in justification of the latter'S course, that
Jefferson is OyerwhelmiDgly..OppOsed to Mr..
Camden, is not borne ont by the record.
Our people do not object to our members
of the Legislature voting for the candidate
of their choice for the responsible station
of Senator OF the United States, but they
demand when they have been nominated
and elected rs Democrats, through the
medium of the usual and statutary organi-
zation of the party, that they, in their
representative capacities shall conform
their conduct to the same beniticent rule
one which has become an axiom of party
cOnduct-that the will OF the majority
must be respected.
The sentiment of the Democrats of JEFF
ferSOn was overwhelmingly in favor of a
caucus to determine the party's choice for
all OF the offices within the gift of it's adhe-
rents; and majority OF its members hay
inv nominated MIR. Camden ~ his own
successor, that same sentiment always
Democratic always true, Is nOw over
whelmingly in favor of the absolute con-
currence of every man who calls himself q
Democrat, in the result of the expressed
will of the majority through the agency OF
regular party organizations and customs.
The result Of Wednesdays caucus elm
mated the personal candidacy of Mr. Cam
den from the contest, and he now stands
before the people of the State rs the en-
bOdiment of Democratic principles and the
chosen representative OF his party. The
people now demand that the result so de-
clared shall be respected by the legislative
representatives, of the dominant party, and
they will hold any and all Democrats rs
recreant to their trusts who fail to give
their full and free acquiescence in their
party's choice. Such Is now the feeling
which finds expression throughout this
county, except from a few disappointed
Office seekers; and our representatives will
find that the man who sits in Judgment
upon Democratic nominee from a self
constituted pinnacle OF greatness and
phariSliCal purity, whatever his ambition
or desires may be, will receive Reputation
at the hands of the party which honorS
him by its suffrage, and that the gallant
Democracy of his State is Is much his SUI
perior and stands as high above him as
does "the peak of Tenneriff above the
sea.
l hope may be pardoned for this treSS-
pass upon your columns, but | could not
refrain from letting your readers know
that the Democracy of the county of JEFF
iersOu still stands To her Democratic
mOOrings, and that at the proper time and
In the proper way she will use the rod Of
ehastiaement upon the members of her po-
litieal household who prove recreant 10
their trust, and cause stigma to rest upon